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Lung diseases are types of diseases that are the most common medical conditions that hinder the working of the lungs. It is the primary and vital respiratory organ, so taking care of our lungs is important.
- Lung diseases are one of the leading causes of death worldwide, as the lungs are sensitive to various infections.
- It functions by expanding and relaxing air-filled oxygen and releasing out carbon dioxide.
- Lungs are a pair of spongy air-filled organs.
- The trachea branches in the body spread into a number of branches called bronchi.
- Bronchi are small-shaped tubes found in the lungs.
- Lung diseases affect airways, lung tissues, or blood circulation in and out of your lungs.
- It also affects the air sacs and intestinal lining between the air sacs.
- It blocks the chest walls and blood vessels of the lungs.
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| Table of Content |
Key Terms: Lung Diseases, Lungs, Bronchi, Trachea, Oxygen, Carbon Dioxide, Mucus, Respiratory Organ, Air Sacs, Breathing, Bronchioles, Asthma, Pneumonia
Asthma
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Asthma is a chronic disease in which the air passages of the lungs periodically become too narrow due to inflammation of the bronchi and bronchioles. It is often affected by excessive mucus production. The temporary narrowing of the airways shortens the oxygen flow to the lungs, causing difficulty in breathing.
Causes
The various causes of asthma are as follows:
Allergy-Related Condition
If you have an allergy-related condition, then it could be triggered by substances called allergens in the environment. It includes substances such as moulds, house dust mites, pollen, pet fur, cockroaches, and fungi.
Family History
If you have a family history of asthma, then genetics play an inherent role in the development of lung disease. In this case, the disease is called genetic susceptibility.
Infections
Infections like flu and cold, smoke, pollution, emotions including stress and laughter, sudden changes in weather, or exercise can also trigger infections.
Symptoms
The symptoms of asthma differ from person to person, and commonly, they experience wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, coughing, decreased activity, and the inability to speak.
- In most asthma cases, the symptoms will appear from a younger age and carry on into adulthood.
- However, some people can develop asthma in their 60s or 70s.
- This is called adult-onset asthma.
Treatments
Asthma is incurable, but it can be highly controlled. There are different ranges of inhalers and oral medication prescribed to a patient. In severe asthma, injections are given every few weeks to control the symptoms.
- Asthma can also be treated by corticosteroids and nebulizers.
- It can also be controlled by the intake of various pills.
Asthma
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Bronchitis
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Bronchitis is a viral infection that causes inflammation of the mucous membrane in the bronchial tract. Bronchi are air passages in the lungs that connect the windpipe (trachea) to the air sacs (alveoli).
- Bronchitis can last anywhere from six weeks to two years.
- It's most common in heavy smokers.
- Two types of Bronchitis are typically found, namely acute bronchitis and chronic bronchitis.
- A person suffering from acute bronchitis gets better after two to three weeks. Chronic bronchitis can last from three months up to a year.
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Causes
The various causes of bronchitis are as follows:
- The common viruses that cause colds and flu can cause bronchitis.
- It can be a bacterial infection that infects the human body.
- Bronchitis can also be inherited from the family.
- It can be caused by exposure to tobacco, smoking or breathing pollution, and chemical fumes for a long time.
- A person with a weak immune system can also suffer from this problem.
Symptoms
The common symptoms of bronchitis are as follows:
- Hacking cough that lasts for 4-5 days.
- Clear, white, yellow, or green phlegm.
- Low fever
- Congestion in the chest
- Shortness of breath
- Thick and dark mucus
- Whistling sound when you breathe.
Treatments
You can cure bronchitis by taking simple measures, which are as follows:
- Take plenty of rest.
- Drinking lots of water
- Avoiding smoke, fumes, and pollution
- Taking vaporization
- Hot showers
- Prescribed cough medicines
Bronchitis
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Pneumonia
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Pneumonia is an infection that swells one or both the lungs' air sacs (alveoli). The air sacs may accumulate fluid or pus, causing cough, fever, chills, and difficulty in breathing, which could last up to 2-3 weeks.
- Pneumonia starts by breathing fungi, bacteria, or viruses into the lungs.
- There are different types of pneumonia, like bacterial pneumonia, viral pneumonia, mycoplasma pneumonia, and chemical pneumonia.
- In this air sac is filled with pus and other different liquids.
Causes
The various causes of pneumonia are as follows:
- Pneumonia is a contagious disease generally seen in people with impaired immune systems.
- The most common form of pneumonia is the bacterial pneumonia.
- In other cases, it is caused by fungi and viral infections.
- It is caused by Pneumococcal disease and Pneumocystis pneumonia.
Symptoms
Pneumonia spreads quickly, and its symptoms are as follows:
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Shivering with chills
- Fever
- Dry cough
- Wheezing
- Loss of appetite
- Muscle aches
- Nausea
- Vomiting.
Treatments
The type and severity determine the treatment of pneumonia. Oral antibiotics are given for bacterial pneumonia, and completing the entire course of antibiotics will prevent it from returning. Antiviral drugs are prescribed to fight viral pneumonia symptoms, and antifungal medications are used to fight fungal pneumonia.
Pneumonia
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Pulmonary Oedema
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Pulmonary Oedema is a condition caused by the abnormal build-up of excess watery fluid in the lungs. Accumulation of fluid in the numerous air sacs in the lungs makes it difficult for the lungs to function and causes a shortage of oxygen. There are two kinds of pulmonary oedema– acute and chronic pulmonary oedema.
Causes
The various causes of pulmonary oedema are as follows:
- Pulmonary oedema caused by a heart problem is called cardiogenic pulmonary oedema.
- In most cases, fluid builds up in the lungs due to heart conditions.
- Noncardiogenic pulmonary oedema is non-heart-related pulmonary oedema.
- Pulmonary oedema can sometimes be caused by both a heart problem and a non-heart problem.
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Symptoms
Depending on the cause, the symptoms may appear suddenly or develop over time. The symptoms of pulmonary oedema are divided into two categories, which are as follows:
Acute Oedema Symptoms
The various symptoms of acute oedema are as follows:
- Fast and irregular heartbeat
- Extreme shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing that becomes worse when lying down
- Cold and sweaty skin
- Gasping for breath
- Feeling of suffocation or drowning
- Anxiety and restlessness
- Chest pain if pulmonary oedema is caused by heart disease
- Cough tinged with blood
Chronic Oedema Symptoms
The various symptoms of chronic oedema are as follows:
- Acute coughing
- Fatigue
- Wheezing
- Difficulty in breathing while lying down
- Shortness of breath doing physical activity
- Swelling in the lower body
- Rapid weight gain is seen, particularly in the legs
- Waking up at night with a breathless feeling that returns to normal when you sit up
Treatments
Pulmonary oedema is a fatal condition, and the treatment is needed to start immediately. The first line of treatment given is oxygen and constantly monitoring the oxygen levels. Depending upon the condition and reason for pulmonary oedema, doctors give diuretics, morphine, and other medications to control pulse and blood pressure.
Pulmonary oedema
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Things to Remember
- Lung Diseases is a form of the disorder that affects the functioning of the lungs.
- An average person breathes an average of 13 pints of air every minute.
- Most people are unaware that the lungs are the only organs in the human body capable of floating on water.
- Asthma, pneumonia, lung cancer and bronchitis are common types of lung diseases.
- The problem can be diagnosed with chest and mucus examination.
- Oxygen therapy can help solve the problem of lung diseases.
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Sample Questions
Ques. Name a few lung diseases. (2 marks)
Ans. Lung diseases are common diseases that prevent the normal functioning of the lungs. Airway disease, lung tissue disease and lung circulation disease are three types of lung diseases. Some common types of lung diseases are as follows:
- Asthma
- Bronchitis
- Pneumonia
- Pulmonary Oedema
- Lung Cancer
- Coughing up blood
Ques. What are the types of Bronchitis. (3 marks)
Ans. Bronchitis is a type of disorder that causes inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes. People suffering from this problem can experience coughing and thick mucus. Acute Bronchitis and Chronic Bronchitis are the two types of bronchitis, which are discussed in section below.
- Acute Bronchitis: Acute Bronchitis is a type of disease that is caused by viral infection. It can last for 10 to 14 days and cause symptoms for three weeks. This type of disease occurs in kids under five years old.
- Chronic Bronchitis: Chronic Bronchitis is a type of disease caused by productive sputum cough. It can last for three months out of the year for at least two consecutive years. It is caused by respiratory illness or infection and constant exposure to tobacco smoke,
Ques. What is Pneumonia? What are the different types of Pneumonia. (5 marks)
Ans.
Pneumonia is an infection that swells one or both the lungs' alveoli. The alveoli may fill up with fluid or pus, causing symptoms such as a cough, fever, chills, and difficulty breathing. There are different types of Pneumonia: like Bacterial Pneumonia, Viral Pneumonia, Mycoplasma Pneumonia, and Chemical Pneumonia.
- Bacterial Pneumonia: It is caused by bacteria caused by streptococcus pneumoniae. It affects one small area of the lung or both an individual's lungs.
- Viral Pneumonia: This is the most common type of pneumonia that is caused by flu influenza. This is not a serious category of pneumonia and can be treated quickly.
- Mycoplasma Pneumonia: It is also known as walking pneumonia. The signs and symptoms of this type of pneumonia may vary from person to person. This type of pneumonia is found in young adults and older children.
- Chemical Pneumonia: It is a type of pneumonia that is caused by chemicals. It mostly affects people with weak immune systems, especially those with AIDS.
Ques. Is asthma curable. (2 marks)
Ans. No, asthma is an incurable disease, but it can be highly controlled. The treatment for asthma ranges from different inhalers and oral medication. In the case of severe asthma, injections are given every few weeks to control the symptoms.
Ques. What causes pulmonary oedema. (2 marks)
Ans. Pulmonary oedema is caused by the abnormal build-up of excess watery fluid in the lungs. The accumulation of watery fluid in the air sacs of the lungs makes it difficult for the lungs to function and causes a shortage of oxygen. It can be caused by both- a heart problem and a non-heart problem.
Ques. What are the common symptoms of acute oedema. (3 marks)
Ans. Acute oedema is caused by the accumulation of fluid in the lung parenchyma which lead to the impaired gas. The gases are impaired by exchange of different gases between the air in the alveoli and pulmonary capillaries. The most common symptoms of acute oedema are as follows:
- Fast and irregular heartbeat
- Extreme shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing that becomes worse when lying down
- Cold and sweaty skin
- Gasping for breath
- Feeling of suffocation or drowning
- Anxiety and restlessness
- Chest pain if pulmonary oedema is caused by heart disease
- Cough tinged with blood
Ques. Give some facts regarding the breathing of person. (5 marks)
Ans. Some important facts regarding the breathing of a person are as follows:
- An average person breathes an average of 13 pints of air every minute.
- Lungs can float on water. Most people are unaware that the lungs are the only organs in the human body capable of floating on water.
- Humans exhale up to 17.5 millilitres of water per hour at rest.
- Lungs and tennis courts are of the same size.
- It appears to be impossible, but if the lungs were opened flat, they would cover the size of a tennis court!
- The role of oxygen in breathing is small.
- The air we breathe contains 21% oxygen, but our bodies only use 5% of it; the rest is exhaled.
Ques. What is the difference between asthma and bronchitis. (3 marks)
Ans. The difference between asthma and bronchitis are as follows:
| Asthma | Bronchitis |
|---|---|
| Asthma is a diseas that is caused by the recurremt episode of airflow. | Bronchitis is a type of disease that is caused by inflammation of airway of broncholie found in the lung. |
| It is caused by flu and cold, smoke, pollution, emotions including stress. | It is caused by smoking or breathing pollution, chemical fumes for a long time. |
| Different ranges of inhalers and oral medication help in the treatment of asthma. | Taking vaporization and hot showers help in the treatment of bronchitis. |
Ques. What are the common symptoms of bacterial and viral pneumonia. (4 marks)
Ans. The common symptoms of bacterial pneumonia are as follows:
- Rapid breathing
- Sweating or chills
- High fever
- Cough with yellow, green or bloody mucus
- Loss of appetite
- Tiredness (fatigue)
- Shortness of breath
- Rapid heart rate
- Chest pain or abdominal pain, especially with coughing or deep breathing
The common symptoms of viral pneumonia are as follows:
- Headache
- Dry Cough
- Tiredness and weakness
- Muscle Pain
Ques. What are the main symptoms of lung diseases. (2 marks)
Ans. The main symptoms of lung diseases are as follows:
- Continous coughing
- Acute fever
- Problem in breathing
- Light wheezing sound from the chest
- Chest pain
- Mucus
- Coughling Blood
Ques. What are the different ways to examine lung diseases. (3 marks)
Ans. The differeny ways to examine lung diseases are as follows:
- Examination of chest and mucus
- Investigation of blood
- Check for proteins and antibodies
- Bronchoscopy
- ECG
- Test for spirometry and pulse oximetry
- Rehabilitation
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